Wire: Update - Blasts Kill 95, Wound 536 in Baghdad

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19, 2009 -- Newswire services this morning revised earlier reports and said that a series of explosions killed at least 95 people and wounded more than 536 in Baghdad on Wednesday, making it the deadliest day in the Iraqi capital since U.S. troops withdrew from urban areas in June.

The blasts in the capital followed a string of attacks in Iraq this month that have claimed hundreds of lives and raised doubts about the ability of Iraqi security forces to keep the lid on violence in advance of an American withdrawal, The Associated Press said.

Reuters news service said Baghdad's security spokesman made a rare admission of culpability after the attacks, in which at least six blasts struck near government ministries and other targets at the heart of Iraq's Shi'ite-led administration.

"This operation shows negligence, and is considered a security breach for which Iraqi forces must take most of the blame," Major General Qassim al-Moussawi told Iraqiya state TV.

See link below for details.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Source: Baghdad blasts kill 95, Iraqi security criticised

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